Arsenal Transfer News: Fabrizio Romano Updates on Tielemans and Bissouma
Fabrizio Romano has shared a significant update on Arsenal’s interest in Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yves Bissouma…
THE LOWDOWN: MIDFIELD TARGETS
Despite missing out on Champions League football on the final day of the Premier League season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains focused on strengthening his squad, with both Tielemans and Bissouma among his key targets this summer.
Back in May, The Sun reported that a £40m move for the Belgian midfielder was likely to materialize as Arsenal sought to bolster their midfield options.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arsenal is in a transfer battle with Premier League rivals Manchester United and Serie A champions AC Milan to land Yves Bissouma.
The Malian midfielder has been a long-term target for various clubs, including Arsenal, over the past year. However, Fabrizio Romano suggests the pursuit of the former LOSC Lille star has cooled off recently.
THE LATEST: TIELEMANS A PRIORITY
In his column for Caught Offside, Romano provided an update on the race to sign Bissouma this summer. He stated:
“There was a lot of speculation surrounding Yves Bissouma a few months ago, but things have gone quiet. A move to Aston Villa is now off the table.
“His agent has spoken to several top clubs, but Brighton is holding out for a sale. The asking price for Bissouma has been around €40m/€45m.
“Arsenal have been monitoring him for months, but their main focus is still to finalize the Youri Tielemans deal. Meanwhile, Manchester United have yet to settle on their top midfield target. As I’ve mentioned before, they could pursue Frenkie de Jong, but that deal comes with its own set of challenges.”
THE VERDICT: SIGN BOTH
This is undoubtedly a tough decision for Edu and the Arsenal hierarchy. Both Tielemans and Bissouma are exceptional talents, and picking between them isn’t easy. That’s why we believe Arsenal should pursue both players this summer to significantly boost their midfield options.
With Granit Xhaka’s future at the club uncertain, and Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, and Albert-Sambi Lokonga as the only other midfield options for next season, bringing in both Tielemans and Bissouma would provide crucial depth and reinforce Arsenal’s midfield strength—sending a clear statement of intent for the upcoming season.
Tielemans, who scored six goals and provided three assists in the Premier League during the 2021/22 campaign, has been a consistent presence for Leicester City since his move from Monaco in 2019, contributing at least nine goal involvements in each of his last three full seasons. The £49.5m-rated Belgian would offer Arsenal composure in the attacking third, facilitating build-up play and creating chances, averaging 19.17 touches in the attacking zone per 90 minutes and 2.97 shot-creating actions per 90.
Meanwhile, Bissouma, valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, impressed with a 7.07 Sofascore rating last season. He averaged 5.6 duels won, 1.9 interceptions, and 1.8 clearances per game, showcasing his defensive qualities and ability to disrupt opposition play.
A midfield pairing of Tielemans and Bissouma could be a thrilling prospect for both Arsenal supporters and Mikel Arteta, strengthening the team in both defensive solidity and creative playmaking.
Source: https://arsenal-mania.com/afc-arsenal-transfer-news-rumours-gossip-youri-tielemans-yves-bissouma-mikel-arteta/
